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If you wield a credit card from American Express, you already have rental car insurance coverage at your fingertips – at least, in most cases. It's important to know how to use this coverage from American Express, as well as when it applies and when it doesn't. Here's what to keep in mind.

Activating Your Coverage

First and foremost, if you want to use American Express' coverage, you have to charge your car rental to your Amex card. Use your card to reserve and pay for the entire rental, and make sure to decline the collision damage waiver offered to you at the rental car counter. From this point forward, you should be covered for the first 30 days of your vehicle rental, should the car be stolen or damaged.

Using Your Insurance

If the worst happens and your rental car does get damaged or stolen while it's in your possession, file a claim immediately. Do this online at American Express' website or over the phone by calling 1(800) 338-1670. You'll be asked to provide copies of your rental car agreement, insurance information, repair bills, police reports and incident reports, so make sure to gather those documents and have them at the ready.

Amex usually takes about 45 days to review a claim. Check up on the claim's status online or over the phone at the same number provided above. If your claim is approved, Amex will reimburse you on your credit card.

Coverage Exceptions

While Amex's rental car coverage is available in most cases, not all rentals are eligible. Coverage doesn't apply to vehicles rented in Australia, Italy or New Zealand. Amex provides only secondary coverage, meaning it pays only eligible benefits that aren't paid by your primary insurance carrier. Amex won't cover liability, damages to any other vehicles other than the one you rented or injuries to people in other vehicles.

If you're a resident of American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau or the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, Amex's rental car insurance isn't available to you. It's also not available to ride-sharing companies that let people rent their personal vehicles.

Amex's terms and conditions for rental car coverage vary slightly depending on which card you hold, so visit American Express' Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance policies webpage to learn about your card's specific terms. You can also call the number on the back of your credit card to get that information.

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About the Author

Brenna Swanston is a freelance writer, editor and journalist. She covers topics including environment, education, agriculture and travel. She previously reported for the Sun newspaper in Santa Maria, Calif., and holds a bachelor's in journalism from California Polytechnic State University. Swanston is an avid traveler and loves jazz, yoga and craft beer.

Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

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